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NBD: Stingray Special 5

#46
I have long been attracted to the StingRay Special 5H because I like the lower weight and the sweet roasted maple neck. The new body finishes are nice too. The deterrent for me has been the sound—it seems to lack the character of my 2001 StingRay 5H. I don’t really expect it to sound the same, I’m just not sure I want to make the switch.
 
#48
willsellout said:
So my Fender Elite had a broken truss rod because it seemed like Fender didn't implement their spoke wheel truss rod all that well. Now, I loved the bass, but I had a hard time with the neck and the weight at 10 pounds wasn't ideal either. So I took it into Sweetwater today as their repair shop is up and running, somewhat. I told them what was up. Tech took the neck off and the truss rod spoke wheel fell out and showed it snapped at the threads. I was expecting them to get a new neck from Fender at which point I was going to sell it and get something else. They were like Nah, lets just get you a new bass View attachment 3834390

They didn't have much in the way of Fender Ultra's so I asked if I could just get a credit and use it towards something else. They said no problem. I bought it when I was an employee so I bought it at cost. They gave me a credit for that plus about 10% just because, which was super cools. They also said they'd give me a deal on the price of whatever I wanted in exchange. They didn't have much stock of Fender Ultra's, and to be honest I've lost my taste after this incident. So this is the bass I chose to come home with. The color is Maroon mist or something like that and she weighs 8.4 pounds! Its the lightest Musicman I've ever seen. Plays beautifully, sounds like a Stingray should. The neck is narrow for a 5'er and feels really really great. Super stoked about this whole thing. This is why I continue to shop at Sweetwater even after I stopped working there.

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Very nice, and a great instrument. My son has one of these he plays in the Marine Fleet band and loves it. Congrats!
 
#51
willsellout said:
So my Fender Elite had a broken truss rod because it seemed like Fender didn't implement their spoke wheel truss rod all that well. Now, I loved the bass, but I had a hard time with the neck and the weight at 10 pounds wasn't ideal either. So I took it into Sweetwater today as their repair shop is up and running, somewhat. I told them what was up. Tech took the neck off and the truss rod spoke wheel fell out and showed it snapped at the threads. I was expecting them to get a new neck from Fender at which point I was going to sell it and get something else. They were like Nah, lets just get you a new bass View attachment 3834390

They didn't have much in the way of Fender Ultra's so I asked if I could just get a credit and use it towards something else. They said no problem. I bought it when I was an employee so I bought it at cost. They gave me a credit for that plus about 10% just because, which was super cools. They also said they'd give me a deal on the price of whatever I wanted in exchange. They didn't have much stock of Fender Ultra's, and to be honest I've lost my taste after this incident. So this is the bass I chose to come home with. The color is Maroon mist or something like that and she weighs 8.4 pounds! Its the lightest Musicman I've ever seen. Plays beautifully, sounds like a Stingray should. The neck is narrow for a 5'er and feels really really great. Super stoked about this whole thing. This is why I continue to shop at Sweetwater even after I stopped working there.

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You came out way ahead! Those HH Stingrays are killer!
 
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#54
selowitch said:
I have long been attracted to the StingRay Special 5H because I like the lower weight and the sweet roasted maple neck. The new body finishes are nice too. The deterrent for me has been the sound—it seems to lack the character of my 2001 StingRay 5H. I don’t really expect it to sound the same, I’m just not sure I want to make the switch.
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The Specials do kinda negate a bunch of the 'Stingray-ness' we've all come to expect in my experience. Kinda bassier and maybe a smidge less scooped? I don't know if it's a function of the pickup(s), preamp, or both. If I was a Stingray guy instead of a die-hard Sterling lover, I'd probably have one, but I'd likely replace the guts with a Nordstrand or Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar pre (only because real Music Man electronics are virtually impossible to find) to give it a bit more of the Stingray sound I've always loved. Or maybe it'd be easy enough to just EQ in, I haven't messed with Specials enough to know.
 
#55
Thegrandwazoo said:
The Specials do kinda negate a bunch of the 'Stingray-ness' we've all come to expect in my experience. Kinda bassier and maybe a smidge less scooped? I don't know if it's a function of the pickup(s), preamp, or both. If I was a Stingray guy instead of a die-hard Sterling lover, I'd probably have one, but I'd likely replace the guts with a Nordstrand or Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar pre (only because real Music Man electronics are virtually impossible to find) to give it a bit more of the Stingray sound I've always loved. Or maybe it'd be easy enough to just EQ in, I haven't messed with Specials enough to know.
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Yeah, I own a 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H and a 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H and I love them both. The StingRay is just a great all-around performer and the Sterling has that nasty edginess that makes it great or slap, pickstyle, or fingerfunk. I love them both.

The StingRay is a tad heavy when played standing up, hence my curiosity toward the Special.
 
#56
I am a fan of the Sterlings as well, but I found I much prefer this one over the Sterling that was at Sweetwater. I played them back to back. Both sounded great though. I find that I like it with the switch all the way back or all the way forward. So either pickup solo'd is what sounds good in my house. I won't really know what I really like until I get back to band practice. There is a wide range of tones available and I'm sure I'll find a use for them, for sure.
 
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